The Chicago Bears are missing major pieces in the secondary and could use an immediate upgrade to the unit.
Chicago’s best cornerback, two-time consecutive Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson, is out indefinitely with a groin injury and played just briefly in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions. Kyler Gordon, the Bears’ slot cornerback and one of the best players in the league at that particular position, has missed all three games this year with a hamstring issue.
The Bears finally got a meaningful performance from third-year CB Tyrique Stevenson against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, after he had surrendered a perfect passer rating to opposing quarterbacks through the first two contests of the campaign. But even if Stevenson can return to his rookie form after a bad sophomore season in 2024 and two rough outings to start 2025, Chicago remains woefully understaffed in the secondary.
A potential solution may have fallen into the Bears’ lap, however, after the Houston Texans released defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday, September 23. The move came seemingly out of nowhere, after Houston traded offensive lineman Kenyon Green (a first-rounder in the 2022 NFL draft) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the Super Bowl champion cornerback.
“The Houston Texans are releasing the starting safety, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per sources informed of the situation. The team later announced Gardner-Johnson’s departure,” Kevin Patra of NFL.com wrote. “The move comes as a surprise after CJGJ started the first three games for the 0-3 Texans. He compiled 15 tackles and allowed six catches on eight targets, per Pro Football Focus.”
C.J. Gardner-Johnson Can Fill in as Slot CB While Kyler Gordon Out, Offer Insurance at Safety Behind Jaquan Brisker
GettyChicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon.
Gardner-Johnson’s natural position is safety, but in Chicago’s situation, any improvements to the secondary would be helpful.
He has plenty of experience playing in the slot, which would allow him to fill in directly for Gordon until he can return healthy. And hamstring strains are unfortunately known for their tendency to linger and/or re-occur, so having Gardner-Johnson on the roster would provide a safety net even after Gordon comes back.
Bears safety Jaquan Brisker also battled serious injury concerns in 2024, missing 12 of 17 regular-season games. So Gardner-Johnson could rotate in at safety once Chicago’s secondary returns to full health, and also provides a solution for the defense if Brisker suffers more concussion issues, which have plagued him during his NFL career (he’s had a documented concussion in all three of his professional campaigns).
Bears Need to Strengthen Secondary Depth, Particularly if They Don’t Add Pass Rusher Ahead of Trade Deadline
GettySafety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, formerly of the Houston Texans.
The Bears don’t have a great pass rush and presumably won’t at any point this year unless they pursue a trade ahead of the league’s November 4 deadline. As such, the best option to solidify the defense is to add to the secondary, which has found itself hung out to dry by the lack of consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Gardner-Johnson is in the second season of a three-year, $27 million contract — so while he is not cheap, his cost is not overly onerous, either.
He also plays with a fire that could prove both motivating and compatible with a Bears defense that finally got going in Week 3, holding the Cowboys to just 14 points.
Furthermore, Gardner-Johnson played a stint with the Lions in 2023, so he has some insider insight into how the two-time reigning NFC North Division champs operate on the defensive side of the football.
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